Posts Tagged ‘anime’

Dyskami Publishing Company announced today that it has entered into a North American licensing arrangement with Toei Animation Inc. to design and distribute a line of tabletop board games based on the popular Japanese animation series, Sailor Moon Crystal. Based on Naoko Takeuchi’s legendary manga series, Sailor Moon Crystal retells the story of Sailor Moon as she searches for her fellow Sailor Guardians and the Legendary Silver Crystal to stop the dark forces of Queen Beryl.

“We are absolutely thrilled to be producing a line of Sailor Moon Crystal board and dice games for fans of the series,” said Dyskami Publishing Company President, Mark MacKinnon. “Sailor Moon Crystal offers a dynamic range of iconic characters and rich storylines that makes it an ideal series for adaptation into tabletop games. Sailor Moon and her allies have spanned generations, capturing the hearts of both gamers and anime buffs since the early 1990s and we look forward to bringing them to the gaming table.”

Dyskami will first release Sailor Moon Crystal Dice Challenge in late summer 2017, created by renowned designer, James Ernest of Cheapass Games, based on his Origins Award-winning Button Men game. Dice Challenge is an energetic dice battle game that’s quick to play, easy to teach, and highly portable for playing at anime/gaming conventions. Dyskami will début its next release, the tile-passing-and-bluffing game Sailor Moon Crystal Truth or Bluff, later in the year with additional games following in 2018.

About Dyskami Publishing
Dyskami Publishing Company is a Canadian tabletop gaming company headquartered in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. They are dedicated to creating products for today’s busy board gamers, both casual and hardcore, who may not have as much time for their hobby as before. The company’s tagline, “It’s About Time”, reflects their vision for an evolution in board gaming design and implementation. Dyskami publishes the board games lines Warband: Against the Darkness, Upon a Fable, and Worker Placement. For additional information, contact Dyskami Publishing Company at info@dyskami.ca or visit dyskami.ca.

Force of Will, Inc, will release the Fixed Card Set -Vingolf 3 Ruler All Stars on February 10.

Many favorite heroes and villains return with this set, fighting to be Ruler All Stars. The dragon masters of the magic stones have summoned champions of old to participate in a new challenge. Players can choose their dragon ruler, and join the fight to see if they can reach the level of Ruler All Stars.

Orgins Game Fair is this June 15th through the 19th at Columbus Convention Center in Columbus. It is one the largest gathering of gamers and games in the country and they have some anime/Japanese themed games and events for all.

Last year they started Anime themed programming by partnering with Wasabi Anime, local anime conventions, and others. This year they have expanded that programming. There will be panels, screenings, workshops, a manga library, and more. They will have events Thursday through Saturday only though. They have the use of three rooms for events and the library. Special events include an Anime Name That Tune game show, Trulie Awesome Show (an anime inspired comedy duo), and playing anime games with the maids of Cafe Peitet Joy.

The Special Media Guests for this year’s con are two anime voice actors, Darren Dunstan and Wayne Grayson. Darren has voiced on Yu-Gi-Oh! (Pegasus), the 2003 TMNT (Splinter), Chaotic (Kaz), and several other 4Kids productions along with doing voice direction for a number of series. Wayne has done voice work for over 20 years, his best know work though is Yu-Gi-Oh! (Joey), Utena (Ruka), Samurai Deeper Kyo (Benitora), and the 2003 TMNT (Michelangelo). The two of them will only be there for Saturday and Sunday, helping to judge the costume contest, holding a Q&A, and a signing on Saturday. On Sunday they will be in the Konami area of Battelle Hall all day.

There are a few RPGs with anime themes. Kuro from Cubicle 7 has three different sessions to play, all starting at 8am though. Plus some Big Eye Small Mouth sessions, fantasy and post-apocalyptic ones. Windmill Game Co is running several sessions of their game Advanced Dimensional Green Ninja-Educational Preparatory Super-Elementary Fortress 555 (ADGNEPSEF555), which is designed as a free for all anime inspired game where anything should happen set in a school. They will also have game of it based around wuxia and henshin heroes too.

For those interested in LARPS there are some anime themed ones. The Pokémon company’s LARP is just having you challenge other players with your 3DS or 2DS and a copy of X, Y, Omega Ruby or Alpha Sapphire to collect gym badges to then beat the Elite Four and the Champion to win a prize. It goes on all day on Thursday through Sunday. Not really a traditional LARP unless you put some character into, which I think would be a lot of fun. A more traditional LARP is ADGNEPSEF555: The Movie!! The LARPening!!! on Sunday starting at noon. Inspired from the above RPG.

On the miniature side of things we have some unique items. One man has modified rules from other games to make his own Starblazer’s space game (two sessions) and Area 88 fighter plane game (one session). Cool Mini or Not has some “miniature figure board games” to check out too. Arcade Quest about playing a guild of heroes fighting evil, Rivet Wars a sort of WWI battle with cute and wacky figures, and Kaosball a fantasy sport league. Plus Super Dungeon Explorer and Ninja All-Stars from Ninja Division.

Board throughout the long weekend include Kitsune: of Foxes and Fools (the only game actual using the Anime track listing), Lanterns: The Harvest Festival Tournament, King of Tokyo games, Hanabi, and Samurai Spirit.

There will also be videoing too. Pokémon handheld, Mario Kart, Pokken, Smash Bros, Street Fighter, and a retro game challenge tournaments are all planned.

Early Bird registration pricing ends tomorrow, so sorry this is so late. Ribbons, generics, and event registration will not be available online. Badge Registration will remain open through the show though.

This is a con for all fans of gaming to check out at least once. Though it can get a bit expensive of five days. I will actually be at this one. I have not been for a few years so I am excited for it.

Konami, a returning show sponsor, exhibited its 2016 Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG portfolio at the Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA) annual trade show March 14-18 at Bally’s Event Center in Las Vegas. KONAMI showcased products scheduled to be released later this year at booth #206 and conducted two seminars during the show.

“GAMA allows us to share in-depth details about our 2016 product releases and outline our extensive Organized Play efforts with our core hobby partners,” said Yumi Hoashi, Senior Vice President, Card Business for Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. “Our one-on-one meetings at the booth, combined with our two seminars, makes for a productive and informative event for all parties.”

KONAMI will host two seminars, one on March 15 and one on March 16. During the first seminar, the company will outline their Official Tournament Store (OTS) Program, with a focus on store benefits and Organized Play programs. The second seminar explains the KONAMI Judge Program and how stores will benefit from using registered KONAMI Judges. For more information on KONAMI’s extensive Organized Play programs, including opportunities for new players to learn how to play the game, go towww.yugioh-card.com/en/events/organizedplay.html.

Releasing Friday, March 18, and in time for the busy Easter shopping season is Premium Gold: Infinite Gold. This set allows Duelists to add a little dazzle to their collection and it has something for everyone, including dozens of upgraded cards to bling out a player’s collection plus 21 new cards for a Duelist’s Main Deck and Extra Deck, all gleaming in gold foil technology. Each 5-card Premium Gold: Infinite Gold mini-pack contains two Gold Secrets – consisting of popular cards and brand-new, never-before-seen cards and three Gold Rare versions of fan-favorite cards. As a special bonus to all players, scores of Gold Rare cards in the set includes former Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series Prize Cards Number 106: Giant Hand and Digvorzhak, King of Heavy Industry, now available for everyone to use. Each box contains three mini-packs for a total of 15 cards. MSRP: $14.99 per Box.

Retailers will be sure to draw in fans of the Yu-Gi-Oh! TV show on April 15, when the original Yu-Gi-Oh! TV series takes center stage with Millennium Pack as dozens of old favorites get a whole new look alongside brand-new cards from TV that players have been waiting for! This 48-card set includes more than 20 variant artwork illustrations for classic cards like Thousand Dragon, Flame Swordsman, Widespread Ruin, Kunai with Chain, and Celtic Guardian. Millennium Pack also offers famous cards from the TV series that have never been in print before, including Kaiba’s ultimate card-drawer, the Card of Demise, and the final version of the mightiest Egyptian God Card: The Winged Dragon of Ra – Immortal Phoenix! MSRP: $1.99 per 5-card Pack.

KONAMI delivers big this spring beginning with two May releases. First, is the May 6 release of Shining Victories, the latest Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG core booster set. Appealing to veteran and novice players alike, Shining Victories is a 100-card set with brand-new Deck themes such as Lunalight, Digital Bug, and Amorphage Dragons, and marks the return of Blue-Eyes White Dragon and a plethora of specially crafted “Blue-Eyes” monsters and support cards! Players wanting to get their hands on cards early can attend a Sneak Peek scheduled for April 31 and/or May 1. MSRP: $3.99 per Pack.

Next is Starter Deck – Yuya releasing on May 27. Designed to teach new Duelists how to Duel, this new Starter Deck is the best vehicle for stores to introduce the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG to budding Duelists! Fans will be entertained with a 40-card ready-to-play Deck, including 9 brand-new Performapal cards, and three special Token cards. MSRP: $9.99 per Deck.

Rounding-out the spring are two new products that will help Duelists of all skill levels prepare for the summer tournament season and beyond. First, is Shining Victories Special Edition releasing on June 17. Each box of Shining Victories Special Edition comes with three packs of Shining Victories, one of two Super Rares from the upcoming fall booster set, and one of two guaranteed variant cards. MSRP: $9.99 per box. Then it’s Rise of the True Dragons Structure Deck scheduled for a July 15 release. Rise of the True Dragons follows up on May’s re-launch of the legendary “Blue-Eyes” theme in Shining Victories with a Deck that includes new high-Level Dragons, new Dragon devotee monsters that are easy-to-Summon and work with ANY high-Level Dragons – plus a brand-new Spell card that Summons any Level 7 or 8 Dragon directly from the Graveyard, with no restrictions! MSRP: $9.99 per Deck.

Between conventions, a new tournament season, and in-store events, Duelists will have plenty of opportunities to put their skills to the test this summer – with plenty of new cards to try! The Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG makes the dog days bearable and the tournaments more exciting with the launch of two new products in August – The Dark Illusion core booster set August 5 and the Dragons of Legend Unleashed-* special booster August 19. The Dark Illusion kicks off the new tournament season with a compelling 100-card set filled with brand-new Deck themes, 10 never-before-seen cards, support for recent and classic Deck themes, and cues the return of a legendary monster to the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG – Dark Magician! MSRP: $3.99 per Pack.

The Dragons of Legend -Unleashed-* special booster is the spiritual successor to the popular Dragons of Legend booster sets, composed of numerous foil cards from the Yu-Gi-Oh! manga and animated TV series that have never been printed into actual cards – until now! MSRP: $3.99 per 5-card Pack

* For items marked with an asterisk, please note that title, packaging, contents and price are subject to change.

Japanime Games and Yoka Games join to bring Naruto Shippuden the Board Game to the English-speaking world in the Spring of 2016. The Naruto Shippuden Board Game is a cooperative game based around the travels of Naruto and his friends. It features high-quality art, 3 levels of play and high-quality components.

Pre-Orders will be available soon!

Partnering with Yoka Games, a division of Tsume Art, Japanime Games will bring their quality products to a whole new audience. Naruto Shippuden the Board Game captures the events of the series in a unique style combined with the quality art and packaging that Tsume Art is known for. Players play one of the main characters from the series fighting against the incursion of the Akatsuki and to save the world from its menace! There are 3 levels of play and a large variety of enemies, making each game a unique experience. Featuring high quality components, solid game play, and the number one anime property, this game is going to be a winner.

Eric Price had this to say: “We are proud to work with our new partners in bringing Naruto to our fans. We are sure they will love the game as much as we do. We look forward to future collaborations with Yoka and to help them take advantage of the licenses they have.”

Japanime Games is dedicated to bringing you the finest games from Japan and beyond! It’s Japanime Games’ goal to import and translate the best of the best games from Asia to bring those great games to a wider audience. Their games feature some of the finest art that can be found along with engaging game play and quality components. For more information about Japanime Games, see www.japanimegames.com.

Yoka Games is the new games division of Tsume. Tsume is a company specialized in design of high quality statues in resin, numbered and limited edition. Tsume works with very famous licenses from the Japanese entertainment universe, such as: Naruto Shippuden, One Punch Man, Saint Seiya, Bleach, Fairy Tail, Soul Eater, One Piece and Assassin’s Creed for Ubi Soft.

Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG players preparing for the new tournament season can rev-up their game to the next level with High-Speed Riders. This special booster set from Konami, a leader in the trading card game category, is inspired by the Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s era providing an assortment of cards appealing to both beginning and intermediate level Duelists.

Right out of the gate, players will notice how special this set is, from brand-new Synchro cards to the great selection of other cards, and how High-Speed Riders provides Duelists many Deck-building options. Fans that want to fortify their Extra Deck can check out the new Speedroid, Hi-Speedroid, and Goyo Synchro monsters like Goyo Predator. Only the most adept Duelists will be able to master the power of PSY-Framelord Omega and the new PSY-Frame monsters. The awesome Hot Red Dragon Archfiend Abyss will delight fans of Jack Atlas, from the Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s and Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V animated and manga series, which is just one of the other new cards played by him. Many of these cards, plus other popular cards like Red Dragon Archfiend, will have synergy with the Crossed Souls booster set and the upcoming Dimension of Chaos booster set.

Each High-Speed Riders pack contains nine cards, including one guaranteed foil card for $3.99 per pack and will be available at stores nationwide October 2.

Duelists can watch all-new Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal episodes every Tuesday as well as all of classic Yu-Gi-Oh!, Yu-Gi-Oh! GX, and Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s on www.yugioh.com in the United States. In addition, Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal airs Saturday mornings on Nicktoons from 10-11. In Canada, Duelists can watch episodes of Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V every Friday and Saturday on Teletoon! For more information on KONAMI or the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG, please visit www.yugioh-card.com or call 310-220-8630 to speak directly with a Yu-Gi-Oh! customer support team member.

KONAMI has dug deep into its Yu-Gi-Oh! vault to deliver Duelists an impressive sequel to the hit 2014 booster set with Dragons of Legend 2 debuting July 17. Dragons of Legend 2 is an impressive all-foil set featuring some of the most anticipated, fan-requested cards from the acclaimed Yu-Gi-Oh! animated TV series.

The Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG Dragons of Legend 2 includes all brand-new cards from the original Yu-Gi-Oh! TV series, Yu-Gi-Oh! GX, and Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V, the newest generation of the Yu-Gi-Oh! series. Duelists can finally complete their collection of the Legendary Dragon monsters from the original show with Legendary Knight Critias and Legendary Knight Hermos.

Additionally, with the arrival of several long-awaited Toon cards, fans of Pegasus will be thrilled to add to their growing portfolio with cards such as Toon Kingdom and Toon Ancient Gear Golem and those used by original characters Kaiba, Joey, and several characters from the new Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V TV series, which also have never been made into actual cards until now.

Players busy building their collection will be pleased to know that cards in this set work well with the recently released Crossed Souls booster set and Duelist Pack: Battle City, as well as Legendary Collection 4: Joey’s World, which includes cards drawn from storylines from the original Yu-Gi-Oh! animated TV series. Each five-card pack contains four Super Rare cards along with one Secret Rare making it a great way to power-up a Deck for only $3.99 MSRP per pack. The Dragons of Legend 2 set contains 45 cards: 26 Secret Rare and 19 Super Rare cards.

For Duelists looking to gain an edge on the competition, the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG Strategy Site features articles and tips for players of all levels! A fantastic source of official news and information, new articles are featured almost daily, so you can read the latest tips, watch card strategy videos from the experts, and get news on upcoming cards.

Sure to cause unprecedented excitement among anime and pop culture fans, Kazuki Takahashi, the world-renowned manga artist and creator of Yu-Gi-Oh!, will make his first U.S. public appearance at this year’s Comic-Con International: San Diego, which takes place July 9-12, 2015.

Traveling from his home in Japan, Mr. Takahashi will address Comic-Con fans about the preparations and production underway for the highly anticipated third Yu-Gi-Oh! feature film, which is scheduled for release in 2016. Mr.Takahashi will also explore his passions for illustration, design and gaming and how they meld into inspiring new ideas that have kept the Yu-Gi-Oh! brand fresh and engaging for nearly two decades. The panel date, time and location will be announced by Comic-Con later this month.

“Fans of Yu-Gi-Oh! appreciate just how extraordinary a public appearance by Mr. Takahashi is, and we are thrilled that he has agreed not only to attend and speak at San Diego Comic-Con, but also to take the time to meet with fans and sign autographs, a very rare occurrence indeed,” said Kristen Gray, Senior Vice President, Operations and Business & Legal Affairs at 4K Media Inc., a member of Konami Group. “ Additionally, Mr. Takahashi has provided an illustration of Yugi — the most iconic character from his famous series — for inclusion in the Comic-Con International: San Diego souvenir book for the event.”

Since launching Yu-Gi-Oh!, the global phenomenon that has captured the hearts of millions of fans, Mr. Takahashi’s creative vision has yielded two theatrical movies and five animated TV series broadcast in more than 65 countries. The newest series, Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V, premieres in the United States later this year, setting the stage for the debut of the brand’s third feature film slated to hit theaters in 2016.

As he creates new manga and games, Mr. Takahashi’s projects always center on the value of friendship – the core idea that runs throughout the world of Yu-Gi-Oh! and continues to entice fans to this day. The Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game holds the Guinness Book of World Records as the best-selling trading card game of all time with over 25 billion cards sold.

About 4K Media

4K Media Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc., manages the licensing and marketing of the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise outside of Asia. In addition, 4K Media handles brand management and the production and distribution of the Yu-Gi-Oh! television series. The series have been translated and broadcast in 65 countries on leading networks.

With great intensity and fanfare, the 150th Yu-Gi-Oh! CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES (YCS) marches into Columbus, Ohio May 23-24. Presented by Konami the YCS is a traveling, premier-level Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG competitive tournament, a game made famous by the Yu-Gi-Oh! TV series. The YCS Series has drawn hundreds of players to each event since 2004 and KONAMI again expects a large turnout for the 150th celebration.

Adding to the allure of the big weekend event, KONAMI has created a special Participation Game Mat available for Duelists and Dragon Duel competitors that have submitted their registration form, entry fee, and valid, legal Deck List. Game Mats will be distributed at pre-registration and registration, while supplies last. In addition, Eric Stuart, the voice of Seto Kaiba from the Yu-Gi-Oh! TV series, will be on hand to meet with fans during his scheduled autograph session. Please visit the event FAQ for the autograph signing schedule.

The Greater Columbus Convention Center will look to contain packs of confident Duelists ranging from novices to sage veterans, as they battle head-to-head for a plethora of exciting prizes. Duelists will use Advanced Constructed Decks throughout the weekend. Hopeful of becoming a part of Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG history, Duelists will enter the doors on Saturday morning looking to take their shot at Yu-Gi-Oh! immortality. Duelists will put their practice and Deck-building skills up against some of the best players the game has to offer for the chance to advance to the Final Round on Sunday and the opportunity to Duel for the title of 150th YCS Champion. The first place winner will receive an Ultra Rare version of the latest, most sought-after prize card: Ascension Sky Dragon. To this day it remains one of the rarest Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG cards in existence!

With the newest products available to the public – the Crossed Souls and World Superstars booster sets and Premium Gold: Return of the Bling – YCS Columbus will be an incubator of sorts for live game-testing as Duelists unveil brand new strategies and Decks. Duelists will need to devote extra attention to see how the inclusion of the new cards from these products impacts the YCS standings!

YCS Columbus will be the fifth YCS to feature Duelists who have qualified for VIP treatment via the VIP Qualifier tournaments only available at Top Performing Official Tournament Stores (OTS). VIP Duelists will receive free entry to the YCS, reserved seating, additional match coverage, and a two-round bye in the Main Event.

Pre-registration for YCS Columbus will run from 1:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. on Friday, May 22 and registration will continue promptly at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 23. Upon registering, Duelists will receive five booster packs of Crossed Souls for participating in KONAMI’s YCS Columbus. Round One will start at 10:00 a.m. and the top ranked YCS finishers will earn invitations to participate in the 2015 World Championship Qualifier. YCS Columbus will be an all constructed event. KONAMI has capped the participation at 2,100 Duelists for this Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series so everyone who has pre-registered and registered will receive the special Participation Game Mat.

Accompanying the Main Event, KONAMI will be conducting Dragon Duels (for Duelists born in 2002 or later). Dragon Duel competitors will also receive the special Participation Game Mat upon pre-registration and registration. The Dragon Duel tournaments on both Saturday and Sunday will be sealed, using Battle Pack 3: Monster League, where each Duelist is given nine sealed Battle Packs to make a new Deck. The top four finishers in the Dragon Duel events will receive winners’ medals, a Dragon Duel T-Shirt, and a 2015 Regional Game Mat. Top-ranked finishers will also win an invitation to the 2015 Dragon Duel World Championship Qualifier. The two victors from the Saturday and Sunday tournaments will face off in a best two-out-of-three match using their own pre-constructed Decks in the Advanced Constructed format, to determine the weekend’s overall winner and a chance at the ultimate prize: to hoist the Dragon Duel Champion’s trophy and the coveted title of YCS Dragon Duel Champion! Entry to the Dragon Duel tournaments is free to qualified players.

A new Public Event that debuted earlier this year is the Beta Format Win-A-Mat. This Special Format Win-A-Mat will be a new challenge for Duelists, in which the number of Summons per turn is reduced. Duelists will use Advanced Format rules for Deck Construction and are allowed a maximum of three Summons per turn: one Normal Summon/Set, one Special Summon from the Extra Deck, and one “other” Special Summon. KONAMI has created two unique Win-A-Mats, one for each type of Win-A-Mat event.

Additionally, a full range of other Public Events such as Regional Qualifiers, 3 vs. 3 Team Dueling, ATTACK OF THE GIANT CARD!!, Win-A-Mat, Battle Pack, and Battle City Tournaments will be held through the weekend.

The Main Event winner, the two runners-up and winners of Sunday’s two Public Event playoffs will each be awarded a YCS prize card. The Main Event winner will take home an Ultra Rare version of the Ascension Sky Dragon prize card, with the other winners bringing home Super Rare versions. Additionally, the top ranked Duelists will win a Top Cut Game Mat for this event that matches the artwork of the Ascension Sky Dragon card.

If attendance exceeds 513 Duelists:
•17th – 32nd place – Exclusive 150th YCS Top Cut Game Mat and an invite to their 2015 World Championship QualifierAll Participants will receive:
•150th Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series Participation Game Mat*; 5 booster packs of Crossed Souls

Duelists unable to participate in YCS Columbus can check out online coverage of the event provided by KONAMI staff. In addition, a Live Stream will also be part of the event coverage; more information will be available at a later date, please check the event FAQ page for updates.

The entire first print run of trading card game English Edition Weiss Schwarz Booster Pack for super-hit Japanese browser game and anime title, Kan Colle, has been fully shipped out on its launch day, May 15, 2015.

In the browser game, players would take on the role of an admiral and lead their Kan Colle fleet girls to battles and victory. The game caught Japan by a storm with the rest of the world riding on the wave immediately. Soon after, a 12-episode anime season was produced, based off the game, in January 2015. The highly anticipated sequel to the anime series was announced before the end of the 12-episode season.

Kan Colle Crunchyroll Anime Synopsis:
Set in a world where humanity has lost control of the oceans to the “deep-sea fleet,” the only hope to counter this threat are the Kanmusu, a group of girls who possess the spirit of Japanese warships. The story revolves around Fubuki, a destroyer who comes to the Chinjufu base to train with other Kanmusu. Watch as their stories unfold!

About Weiss Schwarz
Weiss Schwarz is a popular card gaming system in Japan, and features various licensed anime characters, including those from “FAIRY TAIL” and “Sword Art Online.” Upcoming titles also include “Attack on Titan” and “Love Live! School idol festival”. Bushiroad began providing organized play support and expanded English product offerings since June 2013.